Scout has been as sweet as pie lately. He is always coming home to tell me how he was a “hero” at school that day. He is continually looking around to see what he can do that is nice for others. I finally had to make him stop doing all of Navy’s jobs because we “don’t want her to never learn how to work and become lazy.” He agrees. She doesn’t.
This particular morning, he disappeared for a bit and returned with B in B (Breakfast in Bed) for Nonnie, Bella and me! He personally delivered them, and created his very own dish.
So what was on the menu, you ask?
Butter sandwiches and a banana!
We haven’t been outside with our sidewalk chalk in forever.
But today, we revisited it, and the kids are in love all over again.
Our neighbor Liv traced their bodies, and then my kids colored them in.
Here is Scout’s pic.
Navy, who we have recently found out is an excellent artist (and always stays in the lines) spent a ton of time on hers.
Here is her pic.
(I remember why we put the chalk up a while back — it gets the kids filthy!)
All of this was exciting for Dash to watch from his high chair.
This was the scene.
Dash munching on snacks in his chair while Icka colored and Scout played ball in the cul-de-sac with our neighbor after he finished his picture.
When it was time to wrap things up, I de-clothed them and put their stuff in the wash.
Then we headed to the bath where they got all clean.
Then they put on their PJ’s (AKA underpants).
But to keep them warm, they got to wear their robes also.
Then it was off for a few minutes of Sesame Street before bed.
But apparently coloring took it out of Icka.
So with a sweet kiss from Scout – off to bed they went.
Lately, I have been letting my kids do their “quiet time” together. The upside to this is that they play like little gems when they know the alternative is to be separated and forced to take a real nap. Their latest is Scout is the “son” while Navy is the “Mom”. It is hilarious, and gives Navy the upper hand, which is SO up her alley. (Secretly, I think it gives Scout a time where he can be naughty in the name of someone else, and get away with it.) So it works for both of them. Although, I get a little confused as I respond to Scout calling out “MOM!!” quite often.
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The downside to combo quiet times is that there is power in numbers. And every time one decides to come out for X Y or Z, the other agrees that it is necessary and then they come to find me.
This is immediately after I heard Navy whimpering, “Whaa Whaa Whaa, I’m hurt.” The first dozen times this happened, I checked it all out. NOw I am on to their scheming. I sent Spiderman and Marilyn Monroe right back to their rooms.
After a second “injury”, Scout came down in my boots. (The other down side is that my closet is in their room, and they like to get into everything.) When I asked why he was wearing my boots, Scout said, “Because we are playing mother and son.” HUH? So I went to the mother. When I asked her why he was wearing my boots, she said, “It’s because we are playing mother and son.”
Apparently, that explains it.
Micah and I officially decided to make the controversial decision to put Scout into an immersion program at school.
(When I say controversial — I mean family members.)
So we are committed for a year, and I am excited and nervous at the same time.
Everyone from Carruthy to Miss Diane are in full support, which gives me a bit of comfort.
So in an effort to get him up to snuff, I have him watching a bit of Chinese.
And so far so good!
I was sleeping late when Micah came in from a run and whispered to me that he had found a lost wallet during his run and since he was leaving in the morning — he wanted me to return it to the owner. When I woke up, I searched through it and found it full of stuff. There was a card that had a number on it, so I called. It appeared to be to some sort of counseling service, and when I spoke to someone there, I asked if they would contact “John Stephens” and have him call me. At the end of the call, I asked out of curiosity what type of counseling they offered. I didn’t ask to be nosy — I was just interested in why this 23 year old guy had his car registration, social security card, cash, driver’s license, numerous other things — and a signed medical release to obtain medical marijuana because he had “anxiety disorder”. And come to find out — the number I called was a counseling service that aided in temporary rental housing and food bank assistance. I concluded that this was a young kid that was in a tight spot.
When I got the call from him, I told him I had his wallet, and he just emotionally said, “You’re and angel….you’re an angel.” He then asked, “Is there any money in it?” I told him there was, and he asked if I would count it. I told him there was $113.00 and he then more emotionally exclaimed, “You’re and angel” about six times. I was happy for him, but it really seemed like he was completely down and out without his wallet. Especially when he said, “Thank you SO much, that is all the money I have for the next three months.”
We spoke some more, and I had something tugging on me, so I finally said, “Hey listen John….I was going through your wallet to try and get in contact with you. When I did, I came across this medical marijuana card. It seems like you are having a really tough time in life right now. Do you think that has something to do with it?”
He said, “That’s just in there in case I needed things to be legal. I quit a while ago.”
Who knows how accurate the second sentence is. I am sure the first is completely accurate. That being said, I then told him, “I personally know a few people who are in similar situations that you are in. One in particular was like you when he was 23. He never changed his ways, and now — at 33, he is still the same way. You are young, with a whole life ahead of you. Change it now.”
We decided a time a place to meet up later that morning. (But the whole time I wanted to get in that wallet and rip that card up. Obviously I didn’t, because it wasn’t my place to do so. But it tugged at me.)
When we met up, I walked up and put out my hand. I gave him the wallet, and he was SO excited to see it all in one piece. Then he paused uncomfortably long and said, “Can I give you a reward.” (I knew it must have killed him to think he might have to part with any of his money, and thought it was really nice he even offered.) I said, “No…I was happy to do it.” But then I said, “Actually John, you could give me a reward — you could tear up that card.” He immediately said, “I could do that” as he got it out and ripped it up in front of my face. I was so happy. Not for any other reason than I really hope he stays away from drugs to better his life, and this might be a step in the right direction.
As he ripped it up into pieces, and I felt a little relief, I did something I wanted to do anyway. I said, “John…that was the best reward ever. I wanted to give this to you regardless, but that sure made it a lot easier.” And then I gave him forty bucks. He was thrilled, and just kept saying that this whole thing was a miracle. After that, I reiterated that he seemed like a really nice guy and that he could have a great life if he chose to do so. He told me he has already gotten his name into temp agencies and done a few other things to try to get started.
Who knows what will come of it all, but I am crossing my fingers that him losing his wallet will have been a miracle in his life.
My mom reported to me that she had been upstairs when Scout went over to smack Icka while he said, “BAM! That’s the hand of peace and quietness!” You would think my mom reported this out of disgust towards Scout. But it seemed to me that she reported it our of utter pride in Scout. Apparently Icka needed a little BAM!
When Scout came down, I asked him to show me the “hand”.
This is what I got.
In true mother fashion, I made him apologize and hug it out.
Notice his tongue sticking out while she is in for a really emotional hug.
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Although Icka may have had it coming — that Scout has been on a very weasely role lately.
He is 98% perfect.
But those 2% lately have been out of control!
Like when we were at Sushi and I had to take him out twice. The second time, resulted in me telling Micah to pay the bill and meet me in the car because we were going home! (In fairness — Dash’s new found screaming voice (just to hear himself) contributed to the humiliation.)
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I’ll chalk this all up to a stage.
Hopefully it is about a two week stage, because if it is much longer — I’m signing him up for acting class — where he can be in his stage…on stage.
Ka was smokin’ at her 8th grade dance.
At least that is what all of the boy’s eyes said as she got out of the car!
Amongst the filming — there were two serious powerhouses.
And one little runt.
(Who should have known to not wear horizontal stripes — but had no other choice after Dash threw up down her sleeve and she only had one sweater in the laundry room to put on!)
Scout has lately wanted to do things on his own.
I love the independence, but hate the growing up part.
His latest accomplishment is making his own breakfast.
He gets the bowl, pours the cereal and milk, then adds a bit of sugar and eats it up.
Too bad for him that I caught him doing the sugar part one morning.
That day, I went out and bought individual packets of sugar.
The new rule is one packet of sugar per bowl.
And to counteract any monkey business — he is only allowed one bowl each morning.
Mr. Do It — I like your tenacity….but I am on to you!
It has been a busy week, so on Friday morning, I finally had a few hours with just me and the kids.
And it was heaven.
We started off with I Love Bagels — blueberry of course!
Dash wanted in on the bagels so badly!
Then we spent time doing “preschool” — which was pattern blocks this morning.
Both kids were in full concentration mode.
While this one was in full jumping mode.
(This is the first day he has felt decent in a week!)
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After chores/scriptures/quiet time, we headed down to Abalone Beach for a little afternoon in the sun.
Dash was loving some pirate’s booty.
But he was scooting all over the place, so I tried to contain him.
And then Missy convinced me that sand has lots of vitamins and minerals!
In the meantime, the big kids were on the slip and slide.
Or making sand angels next to the huge pile of seaweed they had collected.
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I love a day with me and my kids.
Especially when it exhausts them to a point of laying down at night and closing their eyes immediately as they head into dreamland.
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